Diseased Joints

The diseased canine joint

Adequan Canine Stifle with Progressive Damage

The damaging results

  • Joint cartilage, surrounding tissue and fluid deteriorate.1
  • Over time, this leads to bone-on-bone contact, chronic inflammation, swelling, pain and loss of mobility.1

The Stages of OA1

STAGE 0:

Pre-osteoarthritis
Clinically normal with no risks. Injuries or developmental problems are more likely to affect a dog's joints.

STAGE 1:

Early
Earliest signs can include changes in behavior, body position and movement.

STAGE 2:

Mild
Signs include less interest in going on walks and playing.

STAGE 3:

Moderate
Signs include limping, struggling to get up, lie down or refusing to climb stairs.

STAGE 4:

Severe
The dog loses the ability to walk or function. Signs are visible at all times.

Three Biggest Myths About Canine Osteoarthritis:3

Myth: A disease of older dogs.

Fact: Osteoarthritis (OA) is genetic and developmental, and usually starts within the first few months of a dog’s life—during the rapid growth that occurs in the first four to six months.

Myth: Dogs with OA should not exercise.

Fact: Exercise is one of the most powerful weapons against OA. Activity helps joints function better and feel better.

Myth: It’s like a death sentence.

Fact: With its long-term, progressive nature, OA can be a scary diagnosis but it can be managed very effectively over the long term, particularly if it’s diagnosed early, and the motion and comfort of the joint are monitored regularly, most dogs can have good quality of life for a long time.

Treating early can help slow down the clock on OA.

Once canine OA begins, the clock is ticking. Without treatment, deterioration of joint cartilage, surrounding tissue and fluid begins; eventually leading to bone-on-bone contact, chronic inflammation and loss of mobility.1 Rely on Adequan® Canine (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan), the only FDA-approved product to slow the progression of OA before the signs of OA start to appear.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ADEQUAN® CANINE LEARN ABOUT
HEALTHY JOINTS

Osteoarthritis (OA)
Not Just An Old Dog Disease
Video Transcript

Mark E. Epstein
DVM, DABVP (C/F), CVPP

“If a dog has hip dysplasia, they were born with hip dysplasia. So even as puppies, that pathophysiology is beginning. Even if they’re not symptomatic, they have the OA and we need to kind of fill that, find those patients.

We need to fill that void in there and then catch it also when it’s just beginning to be symptomatic, when we can educate pet owners when to recognize those earliest parts.”

B. Duncan X. Lascelles
BSc, BVSc, PhD, FRCVS, CertVA, DSAS(ST), DECVS, DACVS

“So, these young puppies have developmental disease that is driving, initiating osteoarthritis.

“... I think it’s incumbent upon us to try and make the diagnosis of that disease earlier. If we can do that, I think we can improve the future for those dogs.”

Kristin Kirkby Shaw
DVM, MS, PhD, CCRT, DACVS, DACVSMR

“I think that osteoarthritis is truly a disease that starts in young dogs.

“It’s almost always more often identified in older dogs, but the young dogs that have a risk factor for developing osteoarthritis are truly the ones that we should be identifying but are most commonly the ones that are being missed.”

The participants are paid consultants for American Regent Animal Health. The opinions of these consultants may not be representative of American Regent Animal Health.

© 2021, American Regent, Inc.
NP-NA-US-0342 11/2020

Treat the disease early

The onset and progression of osteoarthritis (OA) or degenerative joint disease (DJD) results in the loss of cartilage components, so early intervention is important. Once diagnosis is made, develop a treatment plan focused on inhibiting the destructive disease process in the beginning stages - before mobility is compromised. Adequan® Canine is proven to work in multiple ways to help maintain joint function and modify the disease progression.

dr horse and treatment 3 imgs

Discover if Adequan® Canine is the right choice.

CAUTION: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.

Learn about the diseased joint cycle for horses

Adequan® Canine brand of polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (PSGAG)
INDICATIONS Adequan® Canine is recommended for intramuscular injection for the control of signs associated with non-infectious degenerative and/or traumatic arthritis of canine synovial joints.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Adequan® Canine should not be used in dogs who are hypersensitive to PSGAG or who have a known or suspected bleeding disorder. It should be used with caution in dogs with renal or hepatic impairment. Adverse reactions in clinical studies (transient pain at injection site, transient diarrhea, and abnormal bleeding) were mild and self-limiting. In post approval experience, death has been reported in some cases; vomiting, anorexia, depression/lethargy and diarrhea have also been reported. The safe use of PSGAG in breeding, pregnant or lactating dogs has not been evaluated. Caution: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. For additional safety information, please see Full Prescribing Information.
1. 2016 NAVC Proceedings, Osteoarthritis in Dogs and Cats: Novel Therapeutic Advances, M Epstein, DVM, DABVP C/F, CVPP; K Kirkby Shaw, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVS, DACVSMR.
2. Face validity of a proposed tool for staging canine osteoarthritis: Canine Osteoarthritis Staging Tool (COAST), T. Cachon, O. Frykman, J.F. Innes, B.D.X. Lascelles, M. Okumura, P. Sousa, F. Staffilieri, P.V. Steagall, B. Van Ryssen, COAST Development Group, The Veterinary Journal, 235 (2018) 1-8.
3. Sorting facts from fiction: Canine osteoarthritis myths, Denis J. Marcellin-Little, DEDV, DACVS, dvm360, June 13, 2017.

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